How Do Japanese Gay Men Talk?

What is it about?

In Japanese media, queeny entertainers have a distinct presence. These entertainers flamboyantly speak in a gayly effeminate style of speech, popularly known as queen’s language. Is queen’s language an abuse of male privilege because it vulgarly parodies Japanese women’s speech? Is queen’s language a source of gay oppression because it sweepingly stereotypes Japanese gay-male speech? It is indeed difficult to deny the charge of queen’s language as an example of gay misogyny and misrepresentation. With its politically questionable potential in mind, I examine the use of queen’s language not in the mainstream media but as it is used in everyday life. More specifically, I spotlight queen’s language play among a group of men, who discreetly share passions for volleyball and other men in Tokyo despite their diverse backgrounds.

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Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research on the use of queen's language among Tokyo-based amateur gay volleyballers is important because it sheds light on what often remains in the shadow of vocal and visible gay activism. Their silence-affirmative lives might appear too closeted to duck the label “homophobic” especially in the face of globally unfolding "out-and-proud" activism. Yet, carefully tracing the appearance and disappearance of queen’s language among these men, I show how they develop intimacy through moments of discretion and disclosure as vibrantly negotiated by their collective use of the language in question. Unless we let go of the imposition of an obligatory coming-out in the name of gay liberation, their pro-silence aesthetic remains unappreciated.

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